On 7 and 8 September 2024, Antwerp celebrated and commemorated 80 years of liberation with a large-scale event with a varied programme. For example, the Liberation Parade, the Liberation Village, the Liberation Ball and the commemoration moment for the victims of World War II attracted 110,000 visitors to the Liberation Days on Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday, Antwerp residents and visitors could attend the impressive Liberation Parade, with more than 100 historical and contemporary military vehicles, accompanied by 100 extras and music bands. The Grenadier Guards, one of the highest infantry regiments of the British army, led the way.

In the Liberation Village on the Scheldt Quays, historical and contemporary military vehicles could be admired all weekend long. Visitors could view exceptional tanks such as the Königstiger, the Sexton and the Sherman. 

The Belgian Armed Forces (Defensie, La Défense) was present with a Buffalo, Dingo and LLTV Wolf, and young and old could enjoy themselves in their escape room. There were also two naval ships, the Belgian Pollux and the British HMS Cattistock, where visitors could take a look on board. Everyone could immerse themselves in the 1940s with a make-up and children’s hair salon or during lindy hop initiations and music performances.

On Saturday evening, partygoers let themselves go at the Liberation Ball on the Grote Markt, organised by the District of Antwerp. Performances, including The Ambassadors Jazz Band, which keeps the tradition of the Glenn Miller Band alive, and Discobar Minerva managed to bring back the music and dance styles from the 1940s, together with dance initiations, make-up and hair stylists for the right vintage look and retro food and drink trucks.

On Saturday and Sunday, interested people could take a commemorative walk from the Liberation Village on the Cockerillkaai to the Orteliuskaai. Along the way there was a free open-air exhibition that told the story of several Antwerp victims of the Second World War. 

The walk ended at the Loodswezensite on the Orteliuskaai, where in the future a Names Monument will be built for the Antwerp victims of WWII. 

On Sunday, the victims of the war were honoured here during a commemorative moment. In addition to the open-air exhibition, there were also exhibitions to view and guided tours to follow about WWII in the Museum Aan de Stroom (Museum At the Stream, MAS), the Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen (Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Antwerp, KMSKA), the city hall and in the Steenbergstraat.

Antwerp Commemorates 

With Antwerp Commemorates, the city wants to keep the memory of the war alive. To never forget the victims and events of that time, but also to continue to defend values ​​such as freedom and equality.

The city is currently trying to find out the identity of the fatal victims of WWII who lived or died in Antwerp. All their names will in the future be visible on a new Names Monument on the Scheldt Quays south of the Loodswezen or Pilotage.

All photos in this post, including the main photo, are by Victoriano Moreno, who photographed the events for the City of Antwerp Press Service.